Improvement in liquor-thief



@wat @Mina JOHN F.COLLI'NS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Letters .Patent No. 91,522, dated .Tune 22, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN LIQUOR-THIER The Schedule referred to in theme Letten Patent and making pai-t of the lame.

To all whom it muy concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN F. COLLINS, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Sampling-Instrument, for sampling liquids and fluids ofe-very kind; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,fclear, and exact description of the constructionand operation ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specific-ation, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view of the improved sam- Hpler, ready to be used.

Figure 2 isa sectional view of one of the kinds of instruments now in use.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the improved 'sampler, after the desired sample has been secured.

Figure 4 is a separate view of the inside device.

Figure 5 is a topview at the line a b.

The nature of my invention consists in asimple and cheap appliance for the rapid sampling of liquids or `tluids,c`6ntained in any form or kind of package, without the loss usually incurredand free from the inconvenience of soiling the hands in the operation, or of being compelled tgreverse the instrument in order to empty it of its contents.

, The two instruments, now iu general use for the purpose are as follows:

First, a. plain tube of glass, tin, copper, or other suitable metal, constructed substantially in the form shown in fig. l, without the in side device, in which- A is the tube ;v

B, the handle;

O, the tapered end; and

Dthe cap.

A It is operated by submerging as much ofthe Llower part of the instrument as may be desired in the liquid contained in the barrel, cask,`or other package.

As the liquid rises in the tube, the air is correspondingly displaced, and the operator, having iilled the tube as far as desired or possible, places his thumb over the small hole in the' cap D, suddenly withdraws the instrument, and stops the lower opening with the finger of the other hand, thus retaining the sample in the tube.

If, however, the quantity in the package be too small to allow the fluid to rise in the tube far enough to furnish the required sample, the air is exhausted by placing the mouth over the hole in the cap D, and drawing or suckingathe liquid up into the tube.

Second, an instrument of somewhat similar construction, with the tapered end at the top, the tube out square oi at the bottom, and a small ball-valve closing the opening of aninncr cone,.as shown in iig. 2.

This instrument is operated by moving it up auddown rapidly in the liquid until the required quantity I has been pumped into the tube.

Itis then withdrawn, and emptied by turning it upside down.

.lhe Aobject of this invention is to overcom the 1nconveniences and loss attending the use of lther of the-above-mentioned instruments, and also to perform the operation with the use of one hand only.

This isaccomplished by introducing into the tube the appliance shown in iig. 4, .in which- E is a ring;

G, a tapered stopper or plug, other suitable substance, through its centre;

H, a valve, to open and close the same; and

F, a rod of wire, or small tube, connecting the ring and stopper, and in such a manner as to form guards over the valve H.

Having described the nature now describe its operation.

The operator takes the instrument bythe handle B, and, passing the end of the thumb or finger into the ring E, slightly raises the rod F and stopper G, as shown in iig. 1. The lower part of the instrument is then submerged in the duid to the desired depth, when the ring E is pressed downward, thus, by means of the rod F pressing the tapered stopper or plug into the tapered end of the instrument C, eli'ectually closing it, and retaining the whole sample, subject to the will of the operator,without fear of loss, and leaving the other hand free.

If, however, the depth of the liquid in the package should not be great enough to admit as large a sample into the tube as is desired, the instrument is held open, as shown inv fig. 1, a moment, when first introduced. It is then closed by forcing the plug G to its seat, as' already described, and then moved rapidly up and down in the liquid, securing the same result asin the use of the instrument shown in. iig. 2. Having secured the sample, the instrument is emptied by simply raising the plug G, instead of being compelled to reverse it.

Having described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An instrument for sampling iiuids, consisting of the tube A, ring E, rod F,` perforated plug G, valve H, combined, constructed,\and operated substantially4 as described and set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my signature, this 22d day of February, A. D. 1869.

JOHN AF. COLLINS.

of cork, rubber, or having an opening vertically of my invention, I will Witnesses:

E. L. OoLLINs, A. L. SEnewxcK. 

